Oceans & Forests Blog

Friends of the Earth statement on Senator Kerry’s nomination to become secretary of state

Posted Dec. 21, 2012 / Posted by: Becca Connors

Washington, D.C. -- Friends of the Earth U.S. congratulates Senator John Kerry (D - Mass.) on his nomination to become secretary of state and President Erich Pica had the following statement in response:

“Given the tremendous threat posed by climate change to global human security, and indeed to all of humanity and the planet we inhabit, we expect Senator Kerry to make clear his commitment to making climate change the signature issue of the State Department under his leadership.

“As secretary of state, Sen. Kerry would have to demonstrate the highest degree of visionary and committed leadership to tackling the climate crisis according to what science and equity dictate. He would be required to fight doggedly to elevate the Obama administration’s prioritization of climate change to the highest level, with such a mandate to be carried out internationally by climate negotiators operating in a spirit of cooperation and respect for the global crisis we all face and for which the U.S. bears the greatest historical responsibility.

“It goes without saying that as secretary, the first major challenge of the senator’s leadership at the State Department will be his involvement in the decision to reject TransCanada’s request to construct the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Given Sen. Kerry’s knowledge and commitment to fighting climate change, it is inconceivable that he would do anything other than reject the pipeline permit given that tar sands will otherwise become a ’carbon timebomb’ guaranteed to bring about even greater destruction wrought by climate change.”